Playing like pros, at least for the week

May 9, 2013

Updated July 21, 2014 3:24 a.m.

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(left to right) Jillian Erwin, 12, Maddie Kline, 13, and Mikayla Buscaino, 13, all from Yorba Linda are leaving to play in a soccer tournament in Sweden on May 6th. ///ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 01.0509.yls.strikers.jpg 5.2.2013 Michael Kitada, FOR THE REGISTER Story on 3 Yorba Linda residents who play for FC Strikers, an OC travel soccer team. They will be traveling to Sweden next week to play in a world travel ball tournament. MICHAEL KITADA,

(left to right) Jillian Erwin, 12, Maddie Kline, 13, and Mikayla Buscaino, 13, all from Yorba Linda are leaving to play in a soccer tournament in Sweden on May 6th. ///ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 01.0509.yls.strikers.jpg 5.2.2013 Michael Kitada, FOR THE REGISTER Story on 3 Yorba Linda residents who play for FC Strikers, an OC travel soccer team. They will be traveling to Sweden next week to play in a world travel ball tournament. MICHAEL KITADA,

2013 Lennart Johansson Academy Trophy Field

Group 1

Team; Country

AIK; Sweden

Atletico de Madrid; Spain

Strikers FC; United States (Irvine)

Stabaek; Norway

Group 2

Team; Country

RCD Espanyol; Spain

Vfl Wolfsburg; Germany

Akershus FK; Norway

TPS; Finland

Maddie Kline, Mikayla Buscaino and Jillian Erwin are used to the grind of the year-round soccer season.

Traveling a few hours away to play a slate full of tournament games is nothing new, and it goes without saying that every game will be against top-notch competition.

But this weekend's upcoming tourney will prove to be a little different.

The travel will be a tad bit farther. And the competition, likely, will be the best to date.

The trio's club team – Strikers FC U14 – is participating in the 2013 Lennart Johansson Academy Trophy, an invite-only international tournament held right outside of Stockholm, Sweden in the city of Solna.

"No one does this, so that's what impresses me," Maddie said. "I have never met anyone 13-years-old that has ever done this before."

Strikers FC was the only American squad invited to compete in the eight-team field, and they will go head-to-head against several world-renowned clubs over the weekend. Atletico Madrid (Spain), VfL Wolfsburg (Germany) and RCD Espanyol (Spain) are just a few of the more popular clubs participating in the girls 14U division.

Marisa Pena, president of Strikers FC South Coast, an umbrella group for several teams, had a connection with a tournament representative that helped land a spot for the team; the parents and the team are covering the bills.

"The way the people are putting it, they're physical," Erwin, 12, said of their upcoming competition. "Just no mercy and scary."

There's another big difference the girls were quick to point out – many of the players they will be matched up against are under contract with their current club, meaning they are paid to play.

"It's really weird, because we don't get paid anything," said Buscaino, 13. "We actually have to pay to play by doing chores."

And while they may not be paid, there are some definite perks the trio is looking forward to – new Strikers FC merchandise, the opportunity to play in a Swedish soccer stadium, and the chance to get a glimpse at what life as a professional could be like.

The week's itinerary is filled with soccer-related business: Everything from training sessions to meal times is charted out to the minute.

Because they are the only American team participating, the girls feel the need to perform at a high level.

"Obviously you want to do good to represent," Buscaino said. "That way other teams can have this opportunity again."

Strikers will take the field for the first time on Friday afternoon against Atletico Madrid. It will be the first of at least five games they'll play over the course of the weekend.

"I'm going to be scared, but then again it's like, we're here," Kline said. "Just make the most of it."

Above all else, the trio wants to enjoy their time in Sweden. They're looking forward to bonding with teammates for what they referred to as a 'week sleepover,' and they've started learning phrases in other languages – such as "nice ball" – to compliment their opponents when they make a nice play.

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